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Medicare Rules for Lift Chairs

If you are eligible for Medicare and would like to place a claim for a lift chair, know that the insurance carrier has imposed strict requirements to which you must adhere. You must have an ambulatory disability, but the condition cannot be so severe as to totally incapacitate you. Even if you satisfy those criteria, Medicare will only cover part of the expense of the chair.

  1. Doctor's Prescription

    • In order for Medicare to accept your claim, you must show evidence of a doctor's prescription for the chair. According to the Lift Chair Guide, the lift chair must be part of a treatment plan that the doctor has aimed at preventing your condition--- such as arthritis or some other ambulatory problem---from worsening. In addition, your doctor must also fill out a "certificate of medical necessity," which, according to the Preferred Health Choice website, includes your full name and the length of time you need the device, including the start date and end date. Your physician must then sign and date it. You must mail this paperwork to Medicare along with your claim before the agency will even consider granting you the discount.

    Coverage

    • Medicare will not fully bankroll your chair. As the Lift Chair Guide points out, that is because Medicare only finances the lifting mechanism, the part that actually lifts the chair in the air. As the Pro Rehab website states, the agency usually provides up to 80 per cent of the total cost of the chair. Medicare also limits coverage to the type of chairs that you can smoothly operate, instead of the ones that operate on a spring release system. Medicare deems these to be a safety hazard, because, according to the Pro Rehab website, they can suddenly jolt you out of your chair.

    Criteria for Coverage

    • According to the ProHealth website, you must have arthritis of the hip or knees or a neuromuscular disease. In addition, you must be incapable of standing up from any other kind of chair in your house. Moreover, you must be able to prove that you can walk once you have gotten out of your chair.

    Coverage Application Process

    • As the Pro Rehab site points out, the store from which you bought the chair will send your claim into Medicare on your behalf, along with the physician's statement. Keep your receipt from the purchase of the chair, as you must send in proof of your purchase.

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